News Article

European Commission: 70,000 Jobs in Bike Industry

BRUSSELS, Belgium – “The Union industry contributes significantly to technological innovation and spin offs, such as the recently developed EPACs that would not be economically viable without having a bicycle industry in the Union.” This says the European Commission in its anti-dumping review of June 5, 2013.

How the European Commission views the bike industry in Europe is all the more interesting given the current re-shoring initiatives that brings parts production back from Asia. - Photo Bike Europe

How the European Commission views the bike industry in Europe is all the more interesting given the current re-shoring initiatives that brings parts production back from Asia. And possible subsidies that could go with that in the EU Green Jobs scheme.

‘Greening of transport and decarbonisation’

To highlight some statements made by the European Commission in its review report: “The Union industry contributes to the environmental goals such as greening of transport and decarbonisation and is also a driving force for related industries, such as production of bicycle parts, bicycle accessories and related services. In total the Union industry generates directly and indirectly between 60 000 and 70 000 jobs in the Union market.”

‘Generating return on investments’

“The Union industry had undertaken efforts to restructure and invested in innovation which would be lost should the Union industry disappear,” continues the European Commission. “To the contrary, with the measures in place, the Union industry would be able to maintain and even increase sales volume and thereby generating the necessary return on investments which would enable it to continue to reinvest in new technology and innovation.”

P&A production

The review report also stated that there are about 370 companies in the Union, which are supplying components to the bicycle producers and employ about 16,000 people. The suppliers industry is depending on the continuation of the bicycles production in the Union. 53 producers of bicycle parts came forward in favour of the anti-dumping measures, representing 39 % of the estimated 1,2 billion euro of total turnover of the bicycle part industry.”

‘Fragile situation’

It is also said that: “The anti-dumping review investigation showed that the industry is still in a fragile situation. Given the substantial volume of dumped imports from the People’s Republic of China and likelihood of continuation of dumping and injury, there is a strong likelihood that Union production would disappear should measures be repealed.”